When Austen was 9, they attended the Abbey School in Reading. Shortly after enrolling, however, the girls were withdrawn because their father could no longer afford tuition. Though this completed their formal schooling, the girls continued their education at home with the help of their brothers and father. The Austens often read aloud to one another. This evolved into short theatrical performances that Austen had a hand in composing. The Austen family plays were performed in their barn and were attended by family members and a few close neighbors.

“Jane Austen Biography.” Chicago Public Library, www.chipublib.org/jane-austen-biography. Accessed 22 Sept. 2022.